Graphics issue?

[Left Wing jAy]

Just went through any related threads on here, as well as any that weren't just incase.

I have an NVidia GeForce 4 MX 420 - just fully updated it, including the 'beta' driver versions. Having read the forum i'm aware there might be issues with NVidia cards, or something?

My problem is the Water Detail slider is at 0 and greyed out - followed the steps on the other thread (reinstalling directx doesn't seem to work, how do i get around this problem too?), and i've reinstalled the game.

Otherwise everything else runs fine, i'm on my max resolution, all the other details maxed out, no crashes, I can't see what else I could be doing wrong.

Thanks if anyone can help.

 

[Steve Day]

I believe i am right in saying that the "MX" geforce cards have no T&L support (texture & lighting or somesuch) and are consequently NOT 100% DX9.0 complient.

the same thing happens in Star Wars Galaxies with the water and EQ2 wont run on an MX series card at all.

basically to be DX9 compliant the geforce cards have to be TI series 4100 and above

the MX series are "cut down" cards without the TI shader options on them.

Steve

 

[Left Wing jAy]

..

Damn, first time in 2 years I haven't been able to get a game working fully, and it's a Sid Meier strategy game <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />

Edit: Is this guarenteed to be the cause? I've run various other recent games considered to be `high-end` graphically, with little or no problems - or is Pirates! just a modern exception?

 

[Steve Day]

i can't guarantee u that this is definitely the problem, as the box states geforce3 is the minimum. however geforce 3s are TI (titanium) chipsets not MX chipsets.

i can however guarantee u that SWG (star wars) has NO water detail or water detail options on an MX series card.

and i can also guarantee u that EQ2 will not install with an MX card installed.

on balance i think there is a better than average chance that MX is not fully supported. tho in all honesty i have my water slider maxed on my 4200 TI and cant say i am wowed by the difference. tho perhaps my card too is not enough to see a difference.

i am however quite prepared to be proved wrong by another MX user <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Steve